Want to build a better Canada?Tell us what you think.Compare your views to other Canadians.Understand the facts.

Thought Patterns explores who we are as Canadians, and who we want to be. We invite you to take part in this first Thought Patterns conversation about immigration, and share your perspective. Your views matter, and policy and decision-makers are interested in them. We will share our overall findings publicly (only non-identifying information is collected and shared).

Immigration helps Canada's GDP. Without immigration, GDP is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 0.6% through the year 2100. If immigration levels grow such that the population reaches 100 million by the year 2100, GDP growth is forecasted to be a much stronger 2.6% per year.

Source

Economic Analysis, Conference Board of Canada, 2017

In fact, immigrants start more businesses than Canadian born citizens do. In 2010, approx. 6% of longer term immigrants were owners of private companies compared with 5% of Canadian born citizens.

Immigration helps Canada's GDP. Without immigration, GDP is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 0.6% through the year 2100. If immigration levels grow such that the population reaches 100 million by the year 2100, GDP growth is forecasted to be a much stronger 2.6% per year.

Source

Economic Analysis, Conference Board of Canada, 2017

ben·e·fits: The impact of immigration on Canada’s social services and support systems.

You believe immigrants are a burden on Canada's social services and support systems, most Canadians agree. The facts show many important ways new Canadians contribute to Canada’s safety net.

Immigrants areHealthier

Immigrants are healthier than are people born here, which means new Canadians are significant net contributors to the affordability of Canadian healthcare. With steady increases in immigration to reach 100 million new Canadians by 2100, healthcare spending is projected to fall from 34.5% to 29.2% of the provincial budget, an annual savings equal to $21 billion in today’s dollars.

In 2014, international student spending amounted to $11.4 billion dollars, including school fees, accommodation and living expenses. This translates to a $9.3 billion dollar after-tax contribution to Canada’s GDP, and 122,700 jobs supported in the Canadian economy.

New Canadians pay taxes and contribute to the CPP (Canadian Pension Plan). Tax revenue is directed toward many things, including the country’s education system, hospitals, parks, libraries, and infrastructure.

Immigrants are healthier than are people born here, which means new Canadians are significant net contributors to the affordability of Canadian healthcare. With steady increases in immigration to reach 100 million new Canadians by 2100, healthcare spending is projected to fall from 34.5% to 29.2% of the provincial budget, an annual savings equal to $21 billion in today’s dollars.

In 2014, international student spending amounted to $11.4 billion dollars, including school fees, accommodation and living expenses. This translates to a $9.3 billion dollar after-tax contribution to Canada’s GDP, and 122,700 jobs supported in the Canadian economy.

Diversity creates new learning opportunities for Canadians and new business opportunities for the information and cultural industries. TV channels in Toronto, for example, employ people to broadcast in Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian, Punjabi, Portuguese, Arabic and other languages.

Diversity in the workplace makes sense from a business perspective. Companies in the top quartile for diversity are 35% more likely to have above average financial returns for their industry, in Canada, Latin America, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Immigrants are overrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Among male university graduates under age 35, 46% of new Canadians have STEM degrees compared to 32% of males born in Canada. For women, 23% of new Canadians have a STEM degree compared to 13% of women born in Canada. STEM degrees are critical to Canada’s economic prosperity.

Diversity creates new learning opportunities for Canadians and new business opportunities for the information and cultural industries. TV channels in Toronto, for example, employ people to broadcast in Mandarin, Cantonese, Italian, Punjabi, Portuguese, Arabic and other languages.

Diversity in the workplace makes sense from a business perspective. Companies in the top quartile for diversity are 35% more likely to have above average financial returns for their industry, in Canada, Latin America, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Immigrants are overrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Among male university graduates under age 35, 46% of new Canadians have STEM degrees compared to 32% of males born in Canada. For women, 23% of new Canadians have a STEM degree compared to 13% of women born in Canada. STEM degrees are critical to Canada’s economic prosperity.

safe·ty: Canada's ability to admit and process new arrivals and the resulting safety of your neighbourhood.

You believe immigrants are a threat to Canada's safety, most Canadians agree. The facts demonstrate new Canadians enhance the safety of our communities.

Immigrant rich areas areSafer

Studies have shown that immigrant rich areas are safer. Nationally, every 10% increase of the share of immigrants in an area lowers the property crime rate by 2 to 3 percent. Statistics Canada's Toronto crime data found that, all else being equal, the higher the number of new Canadians in a given area, the lower the level of violent crime.

In a study spanning 20+ years of immigration into the greater Toronto area, the rate of "youthful illegalities" (marijuana consumption, fights, stealing cars, petty theft) was found to be significantly lower amongst the immigrant cohort.

CATO Institute's study of U.S. terrorist attacks emphasizes that there is a 0.00003% chance of dying in an attack by a foreign-born terrorist and a 0.00000003% chance of dying in an attack by a refugee.

Studies have shown that immigrant rich areas are safer. Nationally, every 10% increase of the share of immigrants in an area lowers the property crime rate by 2 to 3 percent. Statistics Canada's Toronto crime data found that, all else being equal, the higher the number of new Canadians in a given area, the lower the level of violent crime.

In a study spanning 20+ years of immigration into the greater Toronto area, the rate of "youthful illegalities" (marijuana consumption, fights, stealing cars, petty theft) was found to be significantly lower amongst the immigrant cohort.

CATO Institute's study of U.S. terrorist attacks emphasizes that there is a 0.00003% chance of dying in an attack by a foreign-born terrorist and a 0.00000003% chance of dying in an attack by a refugee.